There’s much more to thought leadership than just thought. There is research. There are attempts, failures, more attempts, and revisions. There is perseverance. There is collaboration. There are risks.

Each year, developing trends surface with the aim of reshaping the way business (or leisure) is done. Take gamification for example. This strategy of applying game methodologies to non-game activities in order to spur consumer engagement really solidified itself as a popular business tactic in 2010.

Content marketing was all the rage in 2013, and continues to be a hot topic for digital marketing professionals. Arguably, the trend to beat in 2014 is establishing oneself as a thought leader. The only problem is that the very term is a misnomer.

If you take the label ‘thought leader’ at face value, what you’re aiming to become is the head initiator of ideas or opinions that occur in the mind. However, if you look at true pioneers of innovative concepts and disruptive technologies – the Elon Musk’s, Sheryl Sandberg’s and Larry Page’s of the world – you’ll find there is a lot more to these individuals than just ideas swirling around in their head.

There are dozens of articles that will offer tips on how to become a thought leader. This is not that article. Below what you’ll find are 4 reasons why thought leaders are, in fact, useless.

Ideas Are Not Antiques, Stop Collecting Them: Rarely do you see a pack leader somewhere in the middle of the pack; or a guide directing a group from the back of the line. In order to be a leader, you need to be at the frontline with others following after you. Too often, those looking to label themselves as thought leaders are really just expert curators of other people’s points of view. To be a groundbreaker you need to be original and redefine the norm. Reposting Richard Branson’s article on productivity hacks is not leading the pack; it’s merely regurgitating the pack’s food.

Hopefully You Don’t Like Sitting: While the term ‘thought leader’ may be one that is here today and gone in 2015, those rare individuals that are changing the course of history have taken a stand. They’ve not only latched onto an issue or opportunity they’re passionate about, they’ll continue to champion that cause decades from now. These pacesetters are impervious to trends and labels. They’re also immune to popular opinion; even when that immunity leads to backlash, harsh criticism or things far less pleasant.

In Show & Tell There Needs to Be a ‘Show’ Before There’s a ‘Tell’: Despite how well you think your idea is going to turn out, or regardless of how appealing it sounds; if you have not achieved success (the show) you’re not ready to wax poetic about it (the tell). The reason is simple: without testing an idea and proving the concept – preferably several times over – you have no clue if it actually works or provides value. Tim Ferris didn’t merely tout theories about escaping the rat race and earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management in his book the 4-Hour Workweek, he researched and tested them. Even then, there was no fanfare until he proved his tests worked. The homepage of his website for the 4-Hour Body describes this book as, “an uncommon guide to rapid fat-loss, incredible sex, and becoming superhuman.” The part that gets less attention is the copy underneath it that says, “10 years of experiments.”

It’s Not the Thought That Counts: Contrary to the popular adage that says otherwise, thought leadership is not about sitting around pondering the what-ifs and wouldn’t-it-be-cool notions that flitter to the forefront of your mind. While thought may be the precursor to a phenomenal new process, it’s not what counts. There’s much more to thought leadership than just thought. There is research. There are attempts, failures, more attempts, and revisions. There is perseverance. There is collaboration. There are risks.

Sure, the understanding is there of what thought leadership is supposed to be. However, in the interest of accuracy, let’s give an early retirement to the rapidly trending term ‘thought leaders’ and call them what they truly are: Action Leaders.